Interestingly I have seen this band, and this album, marked as progressive metal in various quarters but it’s not how I see/hear it at all. In the band’s press release the trio say that they produce a “technical, modern and more mature style of melodic metal” and that seems a far more accurate way of describing what I am hearing. Currently they are using a guest keyboard player and a guest drummer, but let’s hope that they decided to form a more complete touring group out of this as what we have here is a melodic album that has it’s roots in the Eighties but is definitely up to date and vibrant. The first time I played this I enjoyed it, but it was on in the background, but the more I have listened to it the more melody I have discovered, and also more guitars. I’m not sure where the name came from, but I misread it as ‘Culloden’ when I first saw it and for some reason expected a power metal or death metal band so this wasn’t I thought I would be hearing it as all. It came as quite a surprise, but a really good one and as I kept playing it the polish and power definitely made an impression.
Apparently these guys have been working together for some considerable time and this album definitely shows that, as there is no way at all that this seems like a debut. A lot of time and care have been put this into the incredibly well produced and arranged CD, and I can only hope that there will be enough interest for there to be a follow-up as music as good as this deserves attention and recognition, and it has never been the most in vogue style of metal. If you want powerful melodies, great hooks and plenty of riffs then this is the one for you. “Our Only Desire” has radio hit written all over it as it gets inside the brain and stays there.
www.cullooden.com
